Out of the Shadows: A Parent Education Program

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maine has developed an 11-week educational course specifically for families of children who have mental illness. The course has been developed as a curriculum to be taught by interested families who are active in our regional support groups that cover the entire State of Maine. The curriculum covers the diagnosis of mental illness in childhood, normal child and adolescent development, treatments offered for the disorders, resource information, how to collaborate with schools and mental health rights information. Coping strategies for dealing with the stresses associated with having a child who has mental illness are incorporated into the program. The goal of this educational program is to provide families with important information and support that they need to help provide the needed treatment and care of their children who are suffering with mental illness.

This educational program is taught in key areas around Maine in the fall and spring. To find out specific dates, please contact NAMI Maine. Nami Maine also continues to invite families with children suffering from mental illness to its locally based support groups. To find out how to access a support group in your area, or to find out more about "Out of the Shadows: A Parent Education Program", contact Carrie Horne at NAMI Maine, 1-207-622-5767 or carriehorne@gwi.net.